For Immediate Release:
June 5, 2019
Media Contact:
Colleen Onuffer
Break the Ice Media
O: 585-394-0787 x2
C: 716-864-1263
The Wild Center Celebrates the Arrival of Two New North American River Otters on June 22
Tupper Lake, N.Y. - The Wild Center family is expanding this summer with the arrival of two male North American river otters. The pair make their debut in Otter Falls on Saturday, June 22 from 10am to 5pm, which also marks The Wild Center's inaugural You Otter Run/Walk 5K benefitting the Center's Betsy Lowe Fund for Adirondack Education.
The pair began their journey to The Wild Center in Ohio where they were trapped as nuisance animals. Crayfish farmers in Ohio often trap North American river otters as their diet subsists of crayfish, as well as snakes, frogs and fish. These trapped river otters are often slated to be killed and used for fur, or in some cases, relocated to areas without enough food to survive. The Wild Center's Animal Care staff was made aware of their situation and jumped at the opportunity to rescue the pair. The otters join the Center's three other otters: Louie, Scarlett, and Squirt.
Currently unnamed, the otters will be welcomed by a group of youths from Akwesasne as they learn about the mammals, then discover suitable names in the Kaniehkehaka language. The naming project works to keep the spirit alive of the lasting Ways of Knowing partnership between The Wild Center and the Haudenosaunee community.
About You Otter Run/Walk 5K
Put on your otter whiskers and follow Ollie the Otter through Tupper Lake when the inaugural You Otter Run/Walk 5K takes place on Saturday, June 22. The 5K race is a fundraiser to support education programs for Adirondack school groups coming to The Wild Center. Registration begins at 8am and the race begins at 9am. The fee for the race in advance is $20 for ages 5 to 14 and $30 for those over 15 years old. Day of registration is $40 per registrant. Online registration can be found at wildcenter.org.
First, second and third place prizes will be awarded, but all participants will receive a medal.
Funds raised by You Otter Run benefit the Center's Betsy Lowe Fund for Adirondack Education which supports visits to The Wild Center from L.P. Quinn Elementary and other Adirondack schools. The funds pay for school programs related to the otters and other Adirondack animals, plants and many aspects of nature and science based topics.
About Ways of Knowing
Indigenous voices come together to bring you Ways of Knowing. Working in partnership, the Akwesasne Cultural Center, The Six Nations Indian Museum, the Native North American Travelling College and The Wild Center unite to broaden and heighten our understanding and appreciation of the natural world. The collaborative and multi-faceted project opened at The Wild Center in 2018 and encourages visitors to continue their exploration at the Akwesasne Cultural Center in the Mohawk community of Akwesasne, The Six Nations Indian Museum in Onchiota and the Native North American Travelling College on Cornwall Island.
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About The Wild Center:
The Wild Center invites visitors to discover the story of the Adirondacks, and to explore new ways that people and nature can thrive in the same place. Located in Tupper Lake, NY the center uses science-based experiences, exhibits and program to open new ways to look into the relationship that people have with nature and to promote environmental best practices. A 54,000-square-foot facility, The Wild Center features indoor and outdoor space, live animals, hands-on experiences, and its popular Wild Walk, an elevated trail across the Adirondack treetops. The Center is open 7 days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
